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Review: Richard Thompson's 'Mock Tudor'
by e bobcohen

published 9/20/99

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Subj: RT
Douglas - I've heard RT make sarcastic references to lots of people - including himself.

-- zoomer
Jun 16, 2001 at 2:57PM

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Mock Tudor
Just for starters, there's no more excuse for knowing who Richard Thompson is than for not knowing who Van Morrison or Neil Young are. Amazingly, Thompson has a US following that is strong but slight. Hopefully, "Mock Tudor," Richard Thompson's new release, will grab more people's attention, because it is as good a record as you're liable to hear this year. And easily better than any record either Morrison or Young have come up with since the early part of the decade.

I remember an old quote about both Neil Young and Richard Thompson along the lines of, when they play acoustic it sounds like rock and when they play electric it sounds like folk. And it is as true with this record as it ever was. This is the rockingest folk record since God knows when. It is the first Thompson record in ages not produced by Mitchell Froom, and the clean sound from Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf sounds like a big improvement to me. And it has a refreshing quality about it compared to the last few RT records, a smooth, effortless quality to it, that doubtless took a hell of a lot of work and is reminiscent of Thompson live.

Thompson live is like the opposite of a rock star. A guitar virtuoso who doesn't look like he should have a caption under his picture that says "suffering genius pouring his heart out". An intelligent, sensitive, and painfully honest songwriter that makes jokes and banters with his audience. Sounds like a folkie, right? Well, just listen to "Mock Tudor."

The opening track, Cooksferry Queen is a rave-up worthy of John Fogerty, if not early Elvis Presley. Maybe it's about London suburbia, but the music's heart is American rock and roll and the blues and rockabilly it all came from. But instead of a song of teenaged yearning, it's middle-class, middle-aged yearning. Not to mention being pretty damned weird.

Sibella is one of Thompson's patented er-love songs. Not many folks would attempt a chorus of:

Sibella
We don't make sense together
But my hearts with you
Sibella
I find myself strangely true
Strangely true

Haunting stuff. With a melody that has overtones of the classic Kinks singles circa "Sunny Afternoon".

Songs about poisonous women, unhappy love affairs, tortured men, victims of the class system, slighted men. With upbeat melodies, killer guitar solos, some great harmonies, it's everything I hope for from a new release from Richard Thompson. Hey, the guy has authorized bootlegs called "Gloom and Doom From The Tomb".

One comment about the harmonies, it seems like he has found the best backup vocalist since his ex-wife Linda in the person of his son, Teddy. He sounds more than a little like her. Does anyone else find this somewhat creepy?

Perhaps this record won't win him any more fans. There really aren't any enthusiastic or truly romantic songs that will appeal to people who really shouldn't like Thompson in the first place (e.g., Beeswing or 1952 Vincent Black Lightning). The instant favorite off the record is catchy tirade, Crawl Back (Under My Stone), but the acoustic grabber is The Sights and Sounds of London Town with the stories of the various victims of the city. And any longtime fan of RT would love his classic dirge "That's All, Amen, Close The Door". The closer is the chilling "Hope You Like The New Me". With black humor worthy of Alfred Hitchcock more than Elvis Costello or Randy Newman, behind a grim, sparse arrangement, Thompson sings:

I stole your soul - when you weren't looking
I reached inside and cut it free
It suits me more than it ever suited you
Hope you like the new me

Fortunately Thompson has not changed his style or his soul. Perhaps in his memories of the London suburbs he's found a subject that can make him as pissed off as Linda once did. Whatever it is, Thompson has created perhaps his best solo record ever soon after reaching the big 5-0. He's a dysfunctional inspiration to us all.


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Name: zoomer
Subject: RT
-- Jun 16, 2001 at 2:57PM
Douglas - I've heard RT make sarcastic references to lots of people - including himself.

Name: Chas
Subject: Unreleased concert gems
-- Mar 29, 2001 at 11:54AM
What people miss when they've never seen RT live is the interplay with the audience much like any folkie. The exception is that RT is exceedingly funny. He also has performed some hilarious songs which never make it onto releases. The Hamlet ditty, the Pat Metheny song, the Madonna commentary, the song he wrote for his son's class on Egypt, and of course Woman or a Man which did make it onto a live release from the early 80's. You can't help but laugh again and again at the man's sense of humor.

Name: Flames
Subject: Mitchell Froom
-- Mar 15, 2000 at 9:06AM
I hear lot of ungenerous comments about Frooms productions with RT: imho "Mirror Blue" was a really great album and i think with Mitchell RT was able to make brilliant things he wouldn't have experimented with others:
anyone here remembers "The way That It Shows", or "Mingus Eyes"?

Name: e bobcohen
Subject: Critics can be right (sometimes)
-- Mar 7, 2000 at 5:18PM
Even though I've read a Thompson quote along the lines of "the only thing worse than a critic is an amateur critic", reviewers (and amateur reviewers) have said good things about Thompson for over 25 years. Nevertheless, I think he has as much of a chance of making the R&R Hall of Fame as Captain Beefheart.
Good for you Robert - go see live music. Keep listening.

Name: Robert
Subject: RT live
-- Mar 7, 2000 at 4:07PM
I've been reading reviews of Thompson's music for over 25 years, but never really listened. I bought "Mock Tudor" after hearing him on Mountain Stage. I saw him in Memphis over the weekend. He is awesome! He is no less an artist than someone like Eric Clapton, and has more passion than Eric's shown in years. I am still buzzing from 2 hours of music, everything from his growling "Crawl Back" to a riotous "Tear-Stained Letter." See him live. You'll never forget it.

Name: roland
Subject: Newcomer to RT
-- Feb 3, 2000 at 3:32PM
First saw and heard R.T. recently when he played
"Bathsheba" at Dave Swarbrick's benefit concert in Birmingham U.K. I was hooked and I've just had a first hearing of Rumour and Sigh album - "Keep Your Distance" - why doesn't this become a classic?

Name: An LS.n Reader
Subject: Review: Richard Thompson's 'Mock Tudor'
-- Dec 15, 1999 at 12:46PM
Dec 15 "99-Great review of Mock Tudor,which for me is THE album of "99.Through the strangest of twists and turns, could RT be the man who saves rock & roll, as I think no other artist moves forward as bravely and beautifully as he does.Nigel

Name: Douglas
Subject: RT
-- Nov 29, 1999 at 5:15PM
Nice review. Agree that Teddy evoke memories of Linda.
I think he inherited his mum's vocal genes! He harmonizes
beautifully w/ dad, singing the parts much as Linda did.
One hopes RT will continue to make use of Teddy's vocal
gifts. RT, TT and Danny Thompson could tour as The Thompsons!
Been a fan of DT's playinmg since his Pentangle days, centuries ago.
Agree that Mock Tudor is RT's best work in a long time, certainly since
Rumor and Sigh. As for the comparison w/ Neil Young, I disagree. I've actually heard RT make sarcastic references to NY during a show or two, if memory serves.

Name: Bill
Subject: RT
-- Nov 20, 1999 at 4:04PM
R Thompson is a man of unflagging talent, and his lack of commercial success is an utter mystery to me. Mock Tudor is a pure delight, the production aptly applied.

Name: Karl
Subject: Mock Tudor
-- Nov 19, 1999 at 1:14AM
Easily one of RT's best offerings. Long time associate and drummer extrordinaire, Dave Mattacks, helps make this one rock for certain.

Name: Gordonus
Subject: RT
-- Oct 2, 1999 at 6:56PM
An excellent review! My thoughts on Mock Tudor exactly. Interesting comparison with Neil Young - I've always thought of them as being transatlantic musical cousins. RT is more consistent than NY though. A guitar jam between them would be something else!

Name: henderson
Subject: RT
-- Sep 27, 1999 at 2:42AM
This may be the only RT review I've ever read that doesn't mention Fairport Convention or "Shoot Out The Lights" by name.

Points for originality


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